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March 24, 2026
庙(廟)miào(miao4)
The character 庙 (miào) refers to a temple or shrine, often associated with worship or reverence for deities, ancestors, or historical figures. It can denote both a physical structure and the concept of a sacred space where rituals are performed. Common usage contexts include religious practices, festivals, and discussions about cultural heritage.
Strokes8Radical广Frequency#11674DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, temples play a significant role during festivals and ancestral worship, reflecting deep-rooted beliefs in spirituality and respect for ancestors. Many families visit their ancestral庙 during Qingming Festival to honor their forebears.
Memory Tip
Imagine a large, ancient temple (庙) with a majestic roof, where people gather to pay respects. The character resembles a house (the roof) on a foundation, symbolizing a sacred space. To remember the pronunciation 'miào', think of a 'meow' sound echoing in the quiet of the temple.
Meanings of 庙
miào(miao4)
1temple
2ancestral shrine
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 庙
庙Simplified
廟Traditional
8Strokes
广Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#11674Frequency Rank
座Measure Word
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 庙
Podcast: 庙
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AI Study Notes for 庙
Quick Contrast
寺 (sì) — use 庙 (miào) for temples dedicated to folk religion or specific deities, while 寺 (sì) typically refers to Buddhist temples.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a large, ancient temple (庙) with a majestic roof, where people gather to pay respects. The character resembles a house (the roof) on a foundation, symbolizing a sacred space. To remember the pronunciation 'miào', think of a 'meow' sound echoing in the quiet of the temple.
Usage Notes
When using 庙, be careful with its context; it is often used in formal or culturally significant discussions rather than casual conversation. Common collocations include '祖庙' (ancestor's temple) and '寺庙' (monastery). Avoid confusing it with '庙会' (temple fair), which refers to events held at these locations.
HSK Study Tips
Although 庙 is not specifically listed in the HSK levels, it connects to HSK 3 and 4 vocabulary related to culture and religion. Students should focus on understanding its compound forms and usage in cultural contexts, as well as related terms like '寺' (sì, temple).
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, temples play a significant role during festivals and ancestral worship, reflecting deep-rooted beliefs in spirituality and respect for ancestors. Many families visit their ancestral庙 during Qingming Festival to honor their forebears.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 庙 with 室 (shì, room) due to their similar structure. For example, saying '我去室' (wǒ qù shì) instead of '我去庙' (wǒ qù miào) can mislead the listener about the intended location.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 庙
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Grammar Patterns of 庙
庙 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 5
Complete the Sentence
他们呈扇形散开，在寺____周围仔细搜寻。
They fanned out and carefully combed the temple grounds.
Example Sentences for 庙 (8)
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1
他们呈扇形散开，在寺庙周围仔细搜寻。
tā mén chéng shàn xíng sàn kāi， ， zài sì miào zhōu wéi zī xì sōu。
They fanned out and carefully combed the temple grounds.
2
他们不仅修缮了老寺庙,还修建了许多新寺庙.
tā mén bù jǐn xiū shàn le lǎo sì miào, , huán xiū jiàn le xǔ duō xīn sì.
They built new temples and repaired and improved old ones.
3
她抬头清楚地看到了被聚光灯照得通明的寺庙。
tā tái tóu qīng chǔ dì kàn dào le bèi jù guāng dēng zhào dé tōng míng de sì miào。
She caught a clear view upwards of the spotlit temple.
4
寺庙的墙壁上刻着象形文字.
sì miào de qiáng bì shàng kè zháo xiàng xíng wén zì.
Hieroglyphics are carved into the walls of the temple.
5
寺庙的墙壁上刻着象形文字。
sì miào de qiáng bì shàng kè zháo xiàng xíng wén zì。
Hieroglyphs are carved into the walls of the temple.
6
寺庙内的诵经声停了。
sì miào nèi de sòng jīng shēng tíng le。
The chanting inside the temple stopped.
7
犹太人把他赶出了寺庙.
yóu tài rén bǎ tā gǎn chū le sì miào.
The Jews cast him out of the temple.
8
知名 的有瑞云禅寺 、 水母庙 、 咏归亭 、 碧霞祠等.
zhī míng de yǒu ruì yún chán、 sì 、 shuǐ、 mǔ miào 、、 yǒng guī tíng 、.
There are well - known Ruiyun Temple, jellyfish Temple, Yong - owned kiosks, as Ha Temple.
Cultural Notes for 庙
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, temples play a significant role during festivals and ancestral worship, reflecting deep-rooted beliefs in spirituality and respect for ancestors. Many families visit their ancestral庙 during Qingming Festival to honor their forebears.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
While Western cultures have churches and places of worship, the concept of 庙 often encompasses a blend of spirituality and cultural tradition, reflecting a broader range of deities and ancestor veneration.
Word Family of 庙
Words Containing This Character16
庙miàotemple廟
寺庙sìmiàotemple寺廟
神庙temple (nonspecific)神廟
庙会miàohuìtemple fair廟會
庙宇temple廟宇
宗庙temple宗廟
孔庙Confucian temple孔廟
庙堂temple廟堂
庙号temple name of a deceased Chinese emperor廟號
圣庙shrine to a sage (esp. Confucius)聖廟
祠庙ancestral hall祠廟
庙祝acolyte in charge of incense in a temple廟祝
大水冲了龙王庙fig. to fail to recognize a familiar person大水沖了龍王廟
岱庙Dai Temple, a temple in Shandong for the god of Mount Tai岱廟
庙主head priest of a temple廟主
关庙乡Kuanmiao township in Tainan county 台南縣|台南县[Táinánxiàn], Taiwan關廟鄉
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 庙 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 庙
庙 (miào) refers to a temple or shrine, often for ancestor worship or local deities, while 教堂 (jiàotáng) specifically means church, which is primarily associated with Christianity.
Yes, 庙 can refer to any temple, but it is most commonly associated with those dedicated to Chinese folk deities or ancestors, rather than Buddhist or Christian places of worship.
It is pronounced as 'miào', with a falling tone, similar to saying 'meow' but with a slight drop in pitch.
